Door operating mechanism



Machs, 1935.

F. J. SULLIVAN DooR OPERATING MEczmmIsur l Filed June 19, 19:51 v2sheets-sheet 1 March 5, 1935.Y F. J. SULLIVAN DOOR @PERATING MEGHANISMFiled .June 19, 1931 I 2 sheets-sheet :al

gmc/too I M/m/DLL/m/Y Patented Mar. s, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEDoon OPERATING MECHANISM Frank J. Sullivan, Oshkosh, Wis. applicati@lJune 19, 1931, serial No. 545,546`

14 Claims.

This invention relates to door operating mecha nisms and moreparticularly to a mechanism for operating garage doors and the like, andis an improvement over the construction shown in my copendingapplication Serial No.A 493,616, 'filed November 5, 1930.r l

As in the case of my copending application referred to, the presentinvention relates particularly to the type of door which is movablefromits normal vertical closed positionto 4an overhead position Within thebuilding, the door being supported at its upper end by a trackway andmovable through a swinging path by means yconnected to its-other end.Doors of this type operated by the usual mechanisms provided for f thispurpose possess 'several disadvantages, and among them the fact that thelower or swinging end of the door is caused to move7 in .a substantiallyarcuate path of material diameterwhereby -.the swinging edge oi. thedoor moves outwardly a substantial distance from the door frame, thusoften causing it to strike against the legs of the operator, and makingthe door inconvenient for use ,in places where limited space isavailable.

Moreoverprelatively heavy springs usually are employed for assisting inlifting the weight of the door, and the movable ends of such springstension of the springs is usually reduced to zero at or before the pointwhere the door reaches its overhead position, thus requiring the use ofsubstantial force for moving the door to its fully open position. Inorder to provide a spring laction of such character that the springs arestill under some tension when the door. reaches an overhead position,thesprings usually are 'strong` ly tensioned when' in closed position,thus requir ing that considerable force be expended toA move the door tofully closed posi-tion, and requiring the use of fastening means forholding the door against the tension of the springs.

In my copendingA application referred to I vhave disclosed a dooroperating mechanism which is highly practicable in operation, and whichovercomes the inherent disadvantages referred to in doors of thisgeneral character. For example, lthe proportionate movements of the freeends of the springs are such that a considerable lifting force isexertedby the springs as the door approaches open position, and no meansis. required for holding the door in closed position against the tensionof the springs. Moreover, the outward swinging movement of the loweredge of the door is materially reduced, thus facilitating the operationofthe door, and rendering it prac-V lticable for use in limitedspaces,such as narrow alleys, etc.

An important object of the present invention inmovement of the doorbetween open and closed positions takes place with a greatly reducedmovement of the free ends of the springs, thus reducing the necessarytension of the springs when in closed position, and permitting the'retention A`of a substantial spring lifting force to facilitate themovement of the door to open position.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of this character which isso designed as to facilitate installation whereby free movement of thedoor is provided when the doorways and other elements are not accuratelyplaced.

A further object is to provide a novel automatic to provide a-dooroperating mechanism wherelatch mechanism operable when the door reachesthe in openv position,

Figure '3 is a detail perspective View. of one of the rollerlassemblies, l

Figure 4 is a section on lineI 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a detail perspective -view of a reach rod andassociatedelements, and,

Figure 6 is a transverse section on line 6-6 of Figure 4. L ,f

` Referring to the drawings, the invention has been illustrated as beingapplied to agarage including a floor 10, a door frame 11 and roof 12,the interior of the garage being provided with the usual ceiling 13. Asshown in Figures 4 and 6, opposite sides oi.' the door frame areprovided with lower sealing strips 14, for a purpose to be described. A

Referring to Figures 4 and 6, the numeral l5 designates a pair of.channeled guides arrangedv adjacent each side of the door. Onechannel'of each pair is y,secured against the inner face of each side ofthe door frame, while the other channel of the pair- `is secured inspaced relation to the rst named channel by spacing studs 16. A pair ofrollers 17 and 18 is arranged within each pair including the latchoperable for holding the door of channels 15. The lower roller 18 ismounted Rails 54 are suspended from the ceiling by straps upon a stubshaft 19 passing through the arms of 55 on opposite sides of the dooropening and near a yoke 20. The upper roller 17is similarly mountthe topthereof. The forward'ends of theserails 'ed upon a stub shaft 2-1 andthis shaft extends are secured to the door frameby brackets 56. Thethrough a yoke 22, similar to the yoke 20;, /dh/ Itrackways aresubstantially C-shaped, as shown stub shaft 21 projects beyond ,the yoke22 and 1s\ in Figure 1, and are adapted to receive rollers 57.

preferablyi'ormed integral with ivy/plate 23, as shown in FigureM.'I'heportion/s'f the yokes 20 and 22 projecting toward each/ other arepreferably channeled-gto receive a. reach rod 24 secured thereto byfastening elements 25. The lower yoke `20 is provided at one /side witha. projecting arm 26 having an eye 27 formed at its free end for a.purpose to be described.v

A bracket 28 is secured against the inner face of each side of the doorframe and is pivoted as at 29fto a connecting member 30. 'Ihe connectingmember 30 is provided with an elongated cylindrical portion in which isarranged the lower end of a rod 31. This rod is threaded at its lowerend for reception within nuts 32 engag'eable against the ends of theconnecting member, as

-shown in Figure 4. The upper end of eachvrod .37 by means of whicheach` plate 23 may be se-n cured to one of the levers 35 in selectedpositions f with respect thereto. .It will be apparent that theconnection between the levers `35 and the plates 23 causes the rollers17 and 18 to move ver- 'tically along their guides when bodily verticalmovement of the levers 35 takes place in a manner to be described.During such movement, the rods 31 act as links connecting one end ofeach lever 35 to the door frame whereby the levers are adapted to swingthrough fixed paths when partaking -of bodily vertical movement.

The other ends of the levers 35 are pivotally connected as at 38 to abracket 39 secured to the lower end of a door 40. The apparatus is shownin the present Ainstance attached to a door made up v-of separate doorsections secured together' by a connecting plate v41 and providedadjacent its lower edge with an angle iron bracing strip 42. It will beapparent however thatthe apparatus is applicable to a door of unitary orotherl construction. One bracket 39 is also pivotally connected as at 43to a latch 44,' as clearly shown in Figure 2. The latch is provided withan elongated slot 45 y terminating at its lower/end' in an offsetportion 46,/ adapted to receive a pin 47carried by the adjacent lever35.- 'I'he free end of thelatch 44 is turned outwardly as at' 48 and isprovided with an opening 49 adapted to receive a rod or similardepending handle 50 for operating the latch in a mannerto be described.Initial movemento'f the door awayl from open position is facilitated bythe provision of a handle 50'. f

A cleat l. is .secured a'gainst theinner face of y the dor adjacent eachedge and extending downwardly from the upper extremity ofthe door.

These cleats project beyond theedge of the door to overlap the door-frame and coact with the sealing strips 14 to act as weather stripping'for the door. Each cleat 51 is provided .with a metal strip 52. securedagainst its inner face as shown in 'figures 1 and 4. The lower ends otthe metal strips 52 are curved away from'the door asv at 53 to engagethestrips 14 to assist in guidingthe door` accurately into position,with-the strips 14 and cleats 51 in vertical alinement 'with each`other. y

These rollersare of slightly less width than the space between the sidesof the trackways to assist in preventing any binding action betweenthese elements.

'll-.shaped brackets 58 are secured against the strips 52 near the upperends thereof. One of these brackets and its associated elements isclearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. Each of the rollers 57 isrotatably mounted upon a shaft 59 extending through the arms of one ofthe brackets 58. A portion of the shaft 59 intermediate its ends ispolygonal, as indicated at 60, and extends through a similarly shapedopening in one of the arms of the bracket 58. Nuts 61 are threaded ontheend of the shaft 59 which extends through the other arm of the bracket58 and are adapted to be `clamped against opposite sides thereof. Thisconstruction permits the shaft 59 to'be longitudinally adjusted byproper manipulation of the nuts 61, while the shaft 59 is prevented fromrotating, thuspreventing the nuts 61 from working loose in operation.

A hanger 62 is secured as at 63 to each of the rails54. TheJlower end ofeach hanger is preferablyoifset inwardly as shown in Figure 2 and isprovided with a series of openings 63 vto selectively receive atransverse pin 64. 'Each pin 64 supports a spring clip 65 theends ofwhich are adapted to engage beneath one of the upper turns of a coilspring 66. "I'hese springs are relatively long and substantiallyvertically arranged as shown in Figures 1 and 4, and have their lowerends engaging hooks 67 carried by threaded rods 68. lEach rod 68extendsthrough one of the eyes 27 and is received in clamping nuts 69engageable against the top and bottom faces of the eye 27. y

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

The door normally occupies a closed position, in which it is verticallyarranged against the strips -14, while the cleats or strips 51 lieagainst the inner faces of the vsides lof the door frame.

The arrangement ofthe strips 14 and 51 provides V35 toward the "door,thus V`tending to hold the lower edge of the door inwardly against thestrips` 14 and hold the door inA closedfposition. Thus aside from a lockto prevent unauthorized opening 'of the door, nofastening means isnecessary to hold the. door in closed position, 4since the' springs 66are 'employed for this purpose.

j When it is desired to open the door, theoperator grasps thehandle A50'tox swing the lower edge of the door outwardly, whereupon the upper`ends of the rods 31 will move inwardly beyond the vertical planereferred to, and the upperends Aoi! therods 31 free to swing inwardly asthe springs 66 transmit a lifting,movement to the levers 35 throughthereach rods 24 and assov 'ciateclelements. As this vertical movementtakes 75 place, the rollers 17 and 18 obviously roll in the guides 15.

Since the lower ends of the rods 31 are connected to xed pivot points,it will 4'rie apparent thaty the ends 33 of these rods swing throughiixed arcs, and accordingly the opposite ends of the levers 35 arecaused to move through fixed predetermined paths as the shafts 21transmit verticalv bodily movement to the levers 35. Doors of thisgeneral character usually are constructed in such a manner that thelower edges of the doors partake of movement about an arc of a circleoi' substantial radius, and accordingly the doors swing outwardly aconsiderable distance from their door openings. Such constructions aredisadvantageous for the reasons previously referred to, and suchdisadvantages are overcome to a considerable extent with the presentconstruction.l

It will be noted that the outward swinging movement of the lower edge ofthe door is determined by the distance between the edge of the door andthe shafts 21, while the vertical movement of the edge of the door willbe equal to twice the distance between the edge of the door and the ends33 of the rods 31. Accordingly it will be apparent thatthe free edge ofthe door partakes of a substantially elliptical movement, thusminimizing the outward movement of the door when it is moved to'openposition.

It will be apparent that the rollers 57 travel in the trackways 54 asthe door moves toward open position. During such movement, it will beapparent that the springs 66 constantly tend to lift the lower edge ofthe door to its overhead position. The operating mechanisms for doors ofthe overhead swinging type usually are limited to the use of relativelyshort springs which are maintained under relatively great tension whenthe doors are closed, but which lose their tension before the doorsreach open position due to the..

proportionate travel ofl the lower ends of the springs. Suchconstructions .not only require that the springs be arranged underconsiderable tension when the doors are closed, but they also requirethat a greater lifting force be transmitted manually to the doors tomove theml to fully open position due to the loss in tension of thesprings as the open position is approached.

With the present construction it will be apparentthat springs of alength nearly equal to the height of the door may be employed, and sincethe vertical movement of the free edge of the door is substantiallygreater than the movement of the shafts 21, a materially shorterproportionate movement of the free .ends of the springs is required,thus permitting these springs to remain under tension throughout themovement i -of th door, and thus greatly facilitating the movement ofthe door to fully open position. In

angle between thelevers 35 and the door gradually increases untiltheseelements reach the relative angular positions shown A in vFigure 2.During who install the apparatus.

such movement, the pin 47 of the latch mechanism. travels downwardlythrough the slot 45 of the latch 44, and when the fully open doorposition is reached, the pin 47 will be in registration with the oisetend 46 of the latch slot,v and the latch will drop to the position shownin Figure 2. The pin 47 under such conditions is in the lower extremityof the latch slot, and accordingly further movement of the door f isprevented.'

Accordingly the operator need not move the door an unnecessary distancewhen swinging it. back to closed position, and the latch mechanism alsofunctions to prevent the rollers 57 from traveling beyond their desiredmaximum limits of travel.

The latch mechanism, moreover, prevents accidental movement of the doorto closed position, since the arrangement of the pin 47 in the offsetend 46 of the latch slot prevents downward movement of the free edge ofthe door until the latch is released. It will be noted that the latchreadily may be released merely by pulling outwardly onoperation of adoor extremely diicult. Withthe present construction, a dragging edge ofthe door readily may be lifted by turning one of the lower `V`nuts 3 2downwardly and then similarly operating the corresponding upper nut 32,thus lifting-the rod 3l and transmitting a suii'icient lifting movementto the adjacent edge of the door to prevent it from dragging upon theground. The'mounting of the rollers 57 also permits'these members i tobe properly adjusted for individual installations. lThe polygonalportion 60 of each roller shaft prevents turning movement thereof, butsuch polygonal shaft'portions are slidable in the arms of the brackets58 through which they lextend. Accordingly the rollers 57 :may beadjusted axially by proper manipulation of the nuts 61, and accordinglythe rollers may be prevented from dragging against the sides of theirrespective trackways.

It is to be understood that the form of the' invention herewith shownand described is t'o be taken as a preferred examplel of the same andthat various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing'from the spirit ofthe invention or thescope of thesubjoined claims.`

Iclaim:

1. The combination with a. door frame and a door adapted to assume avertical position in said frame to form -a clo'suretherefor, of trackwaymeans for supporting the upper end of the door for movementsubstantially laterally away from the .door frame, a lever connected atone end to the door4 frame and at its lother end to the lower end of thedoor, elongated depending means connected at its upperend to said,lever, and a spring having its upper end xed adjacentthe top'of thedoorlfraime and its lower end connected -to said depending means at apoint spaced a substantial" distance from-the upper end thereof.

2. The combination with a door frame and 'a 'door'adapted to assume a.vertical position in said frameto form a closure therefor, of trackwaymeans for supportingthe upper end of the door for movement substantiallylaterally away from the door frame, a lever connected' at one end to,the' lower end of the door, a relatively long link connected between theother end ofthe lever and the door frame, a depending reach rodpivotally connected to said lever intermediate `the ends thereof, and aspring having its upper end nxed adjacent the top `of the' door frameand its lower end connected to the lower end of said reach rod. 3; Thecombination with a door frame and 'a door adapted to assume a. verticalposition in said frame to form a closure therefor, of trackway means forsupporting the upper end of the door for movement substantiallylaterally away from the door frame, and operating means for eacl`r\ edgeofthe door, each operating means comprising a lever connected at one endto the lower end of the door',` a relatively long link connected betweenthe other end of the lever and the door frame, a vertical guide, a reachrod .vertically arranged in said guide, rollers carried by the ends ofsaid reach rod and vertically slidable in said guide, the upper end'ofsaid reach rod being piv- ,otally connected to said lever intermediateits ends, and a relatively long spring fixed at its upper end adjacentthe top of the door frame and connected at its lower end to the lowerend of said reach rod.

4. The combination with 'a door frame and a door adapted to assume avertical position in said frame to form a closure therefor, of trackwaymeans for supporting the upper end of the door for Vmovementsubstantially laterally away from `the door frame, a. lever connected atone end to the lower end of the door, operating means connected to saidlever for effecting movement of the lowerend of the door in a fixedApath to an overhead position, a latch pivotally connected -to the doorat a-point spaced from the point of eonnec tion thereof with said lever.said' latch'being provided with a slot, and a pin carried-by said leverand operable in said slot and engageable with one end thereof when thedoor reaches its overhead position for limiting the movement of the doorbeyond such position.

5. The combination with a door frame and a door adapted to assumea'vertical position in said frame to form a closure therefor, oftrackway means for supporting the upper end of the door for movement'substantially laterally away from the door frame, a bracket carried bythe door adjacent its lower edge, a lever pivotally connected at one endto said bracket, operating means, connected to said lever foreffecting-movement of the lower. end ofthe door in a fixed path to anoverhead position, a latch pivotally connected to said bracket at apoint spacedfrom the pivotal connection thereof with said lever, saidlatch being provided with a longitudinal slot'having a' transverseextension in the end thereof remote from the pivot of the' latch, and apin carried by said lever and operable in said slot, said latch beingmovable `downwardly by gravity when the door reaches its overheadposition wherebythe transverse extension. of said slot receives said pinto prevent movement of the door in either direction.

6. Thecombination with a door'frame and a door adapted to assume-avertical positionV in said frame to form a closure therefor, pttrackway means for supporting the-upper end of the door 'for movement'substantially laterally away fromfthe doorrframe, Va lever connected@at one f4 75 ena-toungmmapztheamnmaveulons 'primmknymmmfmwum linkpivotally connected at one end to the other end ofthe lever, aconnecting member pivoted to the door frame and provided with an openingtherethrough, the other end of said link being threaded and extendingthrough said opening, nuts threaded ox the last named end of said linkand engaging respectively againstthe top and bottom of said connectingmember, and spring means tending to exert a lifting force upon saidlever intermediate the ends thereof.

7. The combination with a door frame and a door adapted to assume avertical position in said frame to form a closure therefor, of track-.way means for supporting the upper end oi. the

therethrough to receive the other end of said link nuts threaded o n thelast named end of said link and engaging respectively against the topand bottom of said connecting member, said lever being adapted to assumea substantially vertical position when the door .is in such position, avertical reach rod pivotally connected at its upper end to said lever,and a spring fixed at its upper en d adjacent the top of the door frameand connected at its lower end to the lower end of said reach rod.

, 8. Apparatus of the character described comprising means forsupporting the upper end of a door for movenient substantially laterallyaway from a door frame,ra lever connected at one end to the door frameand at its other end to the lower end of the door, elongateddependingmeans connected at its upper end to said lever intermepending means at apoint spaceda substantial distance from the upper end thereof'. Y

9. Apparatus of the character described comprising trackway means forsupporting the upper end of a door for movement substantially laterallyaway from adoor frame, a lever connected at one end to the 'lower end ofthe door, a relatively long link connected between the other end of thelever and the door frame, a depending reach rod pivotally connected tosaid lever intermediate the ends thereof, a vertical guide for saidreach rod. and a spring having its upper end fixed adjacent the top ofthe door frame and its lower end connected to the lower end of saidreach rod. l

10. Apparatus of the character described comprising trackway means forsupporting the upper end of a door for movement substantially laterallyaway from the door frame, and operating lmeans for each edge of thedoor, each operating to vthe lower end of the door, a relatively l meanscomprising a lever connected at one g being pivotally connected tosaidlever intermedi-4 ate the ends thereof, and a relatively long'sprlngxedatitsupperendadjacentthetopofthe' doorframe and connectedatitalowerendtothe lower end of said reach md. Y

11. Apparatuur! the character deacribcdcomprising trackway meansforsupporting thel upper end of a door for movement substantially laterallyaway from the door frame, a lever connected at one end to the lower endof the door, operating means connected to said lever for effectingmovement of the lower end of the door in a xed path to an overheadposition, a latch pivotally connected to the door at a point spaced fromthe point of connection thereof with said lever, said latch beingprovided with a slot, and a pin carried by said lever and operable insaid slot and engageable with one end thereof when the door reaches itsoverhead position for limiting the movement of the door beyond suchposition.

12. Apparatus of the character described comprising' trackway means forsupporting the upper end of a door for movement substantially laterallyaway from a door frame, a bracket carried by the door adjacent its loweredge, a lever pivotally connected at one end to said bracket, operatingmeans connected to said lever for effecting movement of the lower end ofthe door in a fixed path to an overhead position, a latchpivotallyconnected `to said bracketat a point spaced from. the pivotal connectionthereof with said lever, said latch being provided with a longitudinalslot having a transverse extensin in the end thereof remote from thepivot of the latch, and a pix'1 carried by said lever and operable insaid slot, said latch being movable downwardly by gravity when the doorreaches its overhead position whereby the transverse extension vof saidslot receives said pin to prevent movement of the door in eitherdirection.

13. Apparatus of the character described comend of a. door formovementsubstantiallylaterally away from the door frame, a lever connected atone end to the lower end of the door, a relatively long link pivotallycon-nected at'one end to the other end ofl the lever, a connectingmember pivoted to the door frame and provided withan openingtherethrough to receive the other end" of said link, nuts threaded onthe last named end of said link and engaging respectively against thetop and bottom of said connecting member, and spring means tending toexert a lifting force upon said lever intermediate the ends thereof.

14. Apparatus of the character described comprising trackway means forsupporting the upper end of a door for movement substantially laterallyaway from a door frame, a lever-connected at one end to the lower end ofthe door, afrelatively long link pivotally connected at one end to theother end of the lever, a connecting member pivoted to the door frameand provided with an opening therethrough to receive thev other e'nd ofsaid link, nuts threaded on the last named end of said link and engagingrespectively against the y top and bottom of said connecting member,said lever being adapted to assume a substantially ,verrtical positionwhen the door is in such position, a

'vertical reach rod pivotally connected at its upper endv to-said leverintermediate the ends thereof, and a spring xed at its upper endadjacent the top of the door frame and connected at itslower end to thelowerend of said reach rod.'

. lFRANK J. SULLIVAN.

